ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University softball team dropped the nightcap after winning the Empire 8 conference-opener on Friday evening at Nazareth University.
 
The Saxons (10-4, 1-1 Empire 8) had a strong offensive start in the early game, taking home the 8-2 victory. The bats fell quiet in the second game, dropping a 5-3 decision to the Golden Flyers (5-6, 1-1 Empire 8).
 
Game One
Nazareth University – 2 | Alfred University – 8
 
The Saxons had the game won by the top of the fifth inning after putting up two runs in the third inning and another three in the fifth. Kendall Steward (Kennedy, NY/Randolph) scored the opening run while Alexis Martinez (Anaheim, CA/Woodbridge) tacked on the second run when Samantha Vidal (Lake Worth, FL/Forest Hill) singled up the middle.
 
Jessica Remm (Carmel, IN/Carmel) singled to push Delaney Prather (North East, PA/North East) home for what would go down as the game-winning run in the fifth inning, making it a 3-0 lead for the Saxons. Molly Whitmyer (Enola, PA/Trinity) drove home the first security runs when she singled up the middle to send Martinez and Vidal across home plate for the 5-0 lead. Naz got its first run of the day off a sacrificed fly in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Saxons started a scoring spree back up in the top of the seventh inning, quelling any hope of a comeback for the Golden Flyers. Abigail Gatza (Burlington, ON, Canada/Assumption Catholic) flew out to centerfield but earned the sacrifice as Vidal was able to tag up and score. Remm scored the seventh run for AU on a misplay by the Naz defense. Whitmyer ended the scoring with a run scored on a wild pitch. Naz added their second run in the bottom of the inning before the Saxon defense ended the game.
 
Steward picked up her seventh win of the season as she struck out batters six times.
 
Game Two
Nazareth University – 5 | Alfred University – 3
 
The Saxons were the first ones on the scoreboard when Whitmyer homered over the center field fence in the top of the first inning. Naz responded with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning. The Golden Flyers added two runs in the bottom of the third and registered the game-winning run in the fourth.
 
AU's offense went silent all the way until the top of the seventh inning when Darby McEnery (Corona, CA/Norco) scored on a passed ball and Steward scored on an RBI single from Prather. Prather registered two hits for AU.
 
The Saxons will next host SUNY Brockport on Friday, April 4 for an E8 doubleheader with games set for 3:00pm and 5:00pm at Harrington Field.